County lines arrests and seizures in rail operation

Police targeted Wolverhampton railway station with others in Coventry and Birmingham

Nine people have been arrested as police targeted West Midlands rail stations to tackle county lines drug operations.

British Transport Police (BTP) and West Midlands Police swooped on stations in Coventry, Wolverhampton and Birmingham over two days.

Drugs, cash and weapons were seized, two men were recalled to prison and seven people including five children were the subject of safeguarding referrals, BTP said.

More than 30 stop-and-searches were conducted and two men were taken to safety from a suspected "cuckooed" premises - where criminals take over the home of vulnerable people.

Safeguarding organisations, The Railway Children and The Children's Society, were part of the operation and encouraged station staff, passengers and commuters to be mindful of child exploitation and to report any concerns they witnessed.

Det Supt David Udomhiaye said: "This week's activity to shut down county lines and identify and safeguard those they exploit was another nail in the coffin for the gangs that hide behind the vulnerable.

"These operations, using resources including our passive drugs dogs, knife arch and covert officers, take place every day across the network, sometimes you'll spot us, sometimes you won't, but rest assured we're always there to take action."